Abstract

GenesisJohnson (2010, p.26) argues that most ideas ‘do not happen in a flash’ but rather form as a result of the ‘adjacent possible’, a term coined to describe the notion that ideas are only ‘built out of a collection of existing parts’ at a certain time. The Pop-Up Art Schools (PUAS) at the University of Huddersfield, the focus of this chapter, resulted from an eclectic collection of temporary and alternative cultural, social and retail events at a particular time. Pop-up shops began opening in unexpected places; pop-up restaurants and bars offered new experiences in unusual locations and art galleries inhabited disused shops. These pop-ups seemed fresh and exciting, and were portrayed by the media as creative ‘go now or miss it’ opportunities. There seemed to be a zeitgeist, something ‘in the air’. There was clearly an attraction to the fleeting and ephemeral, combined with a desire to experience something unusual and memorable. Many of the pop-ups seemed to offer the chance to form an instant community through shared ‘real-life’ experiences and connection with others. They seemed to provide an antidote to the impersonal, the corporate and the slick. They seemed to have more soul.

Item Type:

Book Chapter

Additional Information:

This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Lifelong learning, the arts and community cultural engagement in the contemporary university. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Lifelong learning, the arts and community cultural engagement in the contemporary university
International perspectives
Edited by Darlene E. Clover and Kathy Sanford Manchester University Press 9780719088018